Private prosecution filed against new Samoa MP

One of Samoa's unsuccessful candidates in the general election has filed a private prosecution through a law firm against a new MP, the winner of the Palauli East Constituency, Afoafouvale John Moors.

The former MP, Toluono Feti Toluono of the Tautua Samoa Party, chose a private prosecution because he did not qualify to file an election petition after failing to win fewer than half the winner's votes earlier this month.

Toluono is accusing the new MP of corruption for donating more than 2,000 US dollars to a church in a village weeks before the election.